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When you’re pulling a big fifth wheel, you need a hitch that feels locked in and steady. The Demco Recon is rated for 21,000 lbs gross towing weight and a 4,000 lbs vertical load limit, giving it the backbone to handle serious weight without flinching. The sturdy steel build with a rust-resistant black powder coat stays solid mile after mile, even over rough roads. It’s the kind of hitch that feels tight and controlled when you back in and start rolling.
The wraparound, single-piece jaw gives full 360-degree contact with the king pin so the connection stays tight—no rattle or play like you get with side-closing jaws. A 3/4" thick solid steel locking bar reinforces that hold and automatically locks when the jaw closes. Together they keep the trailer secure and cut down on chucking, so you get a smoother, quieter ride that just feels right from the driver’s seat.
The double-pivot head moves front to back and side to side to match your trailer’s motion, making hookups easier and towing more comfortable. Built-in polyurethane dampeners cushion those small jerks and road vibrations before they reach your truck or trailer. That bit of give makes long hauls less tiring and helps everything track smoothly through turns or uneven roads.
You don’t need a shop to get this hitch in place. The Recon mounts on included industry-standard base rails with custom brackets that tie into your frame. Its lightweight, two-piece design means you can handle it without special gear—drop the base on the rails, slide in the head assembly, pick your height setting (15-1/2", 17-1/4", or 18"), pin it down, and tighten the bolt to lock everything in solid. When it’s time to clear the bed, it breaks down just as easily for quick removal and storage.
Alternate Instructions
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Hi everybody, Andy here with etrailer.com. And today we're gonna take a real quick look at this Demco Premier Series Custom Mounting Brackets. Now as I mentioned, these brackets are custom fit for your 2017 to 2022 Ford F-250 and F-350 Super Duty with a 6 3/4-foot and 8-foot bed without the OEM prep package, and then the 2017 to 2022 Ford F-450 Super Duty with the 8-foot bed and without the OEM prep package. To confirm that these are going to work for you, please take advantage of our vehicle fit guide here at etrailer.com. Input the year, make and model of your truck and our fit guide will let you know if this kit will work for you or if we have something comparable that will work for you. So these installation brackets are going to mount beneath your Ford truck's bed to provide attachment points for your Demco universal above bed base rails for Premiere Series 5th wheel trailer hitches.
And on your screen I am including our item number for those base rails, along with a picture. However, I do have one of those base rails here just to show you demonstration purposes what the base rail looks like. So these brackets are going to work with these base rails. And as you probably know, these base rails do sit in your truck bed and they allow the installation of your 5th wheel trailer hitch. So these custom brackets are going to mount to existing holes in your truck's frame, and what that means for you is no drilling is required, and that's gonna drastically reduce the installation time and avoid known obstacles along the frame of your truck.
Now these brackets are made here in the USA of sturdy, black powder-coated steel, which is going to resist corrosion. And as you can see, the hardware is included for installation, along with a set of instructions to walk you through the installation process step by step. Well, that's gonna conclude our brief look today. I do hope that it was helpful for you. Again, my name is Andy.
Thank you for joining me.
Ratings & Reviews
Not knowing anything about the etrailer company I contacted a local RV service company I trust. They assured me etrailer is a trustworthy company. I placed my order received instant confirmation then as soon as it was shipped they provided tracking numbers I was able to track my order the whole way. My parts showed up as promised in time for install.
love the three piece set-up of these hitches...makes them light weight and easy to handle...also when not in use there is a topper on my truck and the covertability of the hitch allows me to use my bed platform without removing the hitch...just remove two pins and back off the lock bolt and its low enough to use the two tier stacking feature of most trucks
Seems to be a well built hitch and the 3 piece design is VERY nice in the load/unload space. Why this received 3 stars is that it was missing parts and the base was beat up badly (cosmetic) when received. Missing parts included the pins to connect the base to the rails and the pin to connect the neck to the base. Not usable at this point. Etrailer is sending out the parts, and I'll contact Demco for new stickers. Will update review and photos once I have used it.
Hitch came in two boxes UPS. The head was stapled and secured in one box. The base and upright piece came, not in a box, but rolled up in cardboard and taped up with clear packing tape. I put it together so I could hook up and set the height and there is no hitch pin and lynch pin. I don’t know if it was rolled up in the cardboard and lost in shipping or wasn’t packed at all. I also didn’t get the instruction manual and had to go to Demcos website for it. The base and upright being rolled up together banged up the base or it was used and returned and that is why it was rolled up and not in a box. Now I have a hitch that I can’t use because I didn’t get all the parts. Called etrailer for the hitch pin and lynch pin and don’t know when it’ll arrive because it’s not an etrailer part. I can’t review the hitch because as of yet I can’t use it.
product delivered on time and as described. This hitch is easy to move in and out of the bed of my truck with it being able to come apart. Thanks.
Well it came in two pieces the head and the base not a big deal but they came A WEEK apart when I paid for expedited shipping. They tried to blame it on ups but I looked at the second tracking order after the first boxes arrived and it says the label had been made but not at ups so it shipped far after the other boxes. Then when I took the 5th wheel had out of the box the bolt that holds the handle on had a smaller size nut so you can’t even assemble the head. I went here hoping to get the stuff I needed for my 5th in a timely matter but got the opposite… not saying I will not order from here again but I will definitely think twice before I do.
Excellent product and customer service was outstanding. I just bought the product so I haven’t towed with it yet but after many many years of towing with other fifth wheel hitches, I can tell this is going to be an huge improvement!
First shipment had a problem, the box with the base was ok. The box with the hitch head was empty except the release handle. Etrailer promptly sent out a second box with the hitch head that arrived intact. Etrailer had me send some pictures of the damaged first box and then handled the problem with UPS completely on their own. Prompt service to resolve the problem is highly commendable.
Product arrived on time, correct and in perfect condition.
The only issue I am having with the fifth wheel hitch is latch handle will not stay open (out) when hooking up or disconnecting from king Pin sometimes (and yes, I know how to work a fifth wheel hitch). If it wasn't for that I would give it 5 stars.
Haven't used it yet but it's unlikely to be anything but 5 stars. I'll update review if so. The hitch came in 2 boxes. The head was packages in a HD box. The box that the base came in was battered pretty bad. But, no marks in the base. All hardware arrived. Took about 15 minutes to assemble and get set up.
Robert
3/1/2020
I am very happy with this hitch. Easy to hitch. Rock solid connection. Easy to disassemble to be removed. Great buy.
This was an upgrade from the dealer installed hitch. Best purchase since I didn't know how much longer the old hitch would last. After purchase, I was at the dealership and saw they were now selling the same hitch. Solid and rattle free.
Jane S.
4/9/2021
Excellent
The product arrived as scheduled and all the parts and pieces were in the two boxes. It installed quickly in my pickup and I hooked it to the fifth wheel and moved it forward and back. Seems to work well, takes all the slop out of the hitch. The hitch seems to be well constructed and the double latch is what I was looking for.
Jess A.
7/20/2018
I love the hitch it is possitive locking and there is no movement when it is latched around the pin
works every time has never failed, replaced a curt 20k that i used for 10 years,lots of times it wouldnt click and lock .easy to use no chucking.very happy with this hitch.3 years ago i installed air lift air bags ,love them too!!etrailer is a great place to buy from
Robert K.
11/12/2020
real well,hooks up easily,the bolt that snugs up hitch head broke in half,called denco and had a new one in 4 days.very satisfied with hitch
Looks great nice workmanship. Easy to install.
Packaging on large components should be changed??? Need custom molded styrofoam to slide on two sieds and hold product in shipping box. Will include pictures of delivered packages
This is a really nice hitch for the money. Extremely easy to installl for one person. I can’t wait to pull my camper with it. The only problem I had was how badly damaged the package was when delivered. Fortunately the hitch was not damaged. The picture shows how it was when I got it.
Ordered hitch late Wednesday evening and received early afternoon on Friday, that is super fast delivery. Two cartons received with no damage and all parts were there as expected. It looks exactly as advertised online and it was at a great price. AND FREE SHIPPING.
Also made in the USA.
I am replacing my Demco Hi Jacker Auto Slider that weighs approximately 300 lbs with the Demco Recon that according to the shipping labels weighs 91 lbs. It will be installed on a Ford F150 with 5 1/2 ft bed and fiver with a Lippert Turning Point Pin box.
Rugged product, easy to install, quick latch system. easy to remove. Purchased the Reese adapter with this hitch, and installation was easy. Some minor adjustments with the cam over lugs, and setting the hitch posts into the adapter. Overall very easy set up. Looks good, and can be taken apart in pieces, for ease of removal and installation, after set up. Ordering was simple and all parts came in about a week.
Already pulled the rv with it. I like the design. Literally ripped open the box and put it together in a matter of minutes. The three pieces come apart fast lightening it up to remove it from the bed
Jeremiah
9/9/2025
Looks good works good, pull a triple axle Roy hauler rv. No complaints
Parts arrived for the DM 8550043, received only the hitch base plate and adjustable shaft for the hitch head. Have been told that the hitch head is shipped separately. Now have a problem with the hitch plate fitting the bed rails. The holes for the pin that secures the hitch plate to the rails are to close to the bottom of the hitch plate photos are given of the problem a pencil was used for reference. There is NO WAY the pin will go through the rail and hitch plate. Waiting on a solution from etrailer. The hole that you can barely see the pencil is tailgate rails pin fits fine.
This hitch with the Airbourne Sidewinder worked great with the 2018 Ram 2500 Mega cab short bed with Ram boxes. Can maneuver a 90 degree turn without issue. Still have to get trailer lifted higher to get the trailer nose lowered, but for the complicated research we had on the right combo, this is tested and verified
The instructions for installation are very clear. The rear in-bed rail mounted using the factory holes in the bed of my 2017 F350. The front rail required drilling through the bed. The frame brackets mounted through factory holes in the frame. The only difficulty I had was that the DEF tank made one of the holes very difficult to access on one side. Otherwise, it was straight forward, and I mounted this kit in about 2 hours.
Fast shipping. Was easy to install with everyday tools, nothing fancy. Wish the drill template for the bed was a little better, but I was able to get the first 2 holes then just use a tape for the other 2. Still working great a year later.
I had a Demco Recon 5th Wheel Hitch in the past I liked how easy it was to operate and the get in and out of the truck bed. I also like how compacted it is compared to most of the other brands. Go with what you know works for you.
The truck that got the install is a 2002 Ford F350 Super Duty 7.3 L Diesel dually. The Demco Recon 5th wheel hitch (DM8550043) looks like a well made, heavy duty hitch. All the welds are precise and well done. I like the single wrap around jaw with the real thick bar that backs that up. The handle that pulls out to unlock the jaw moves with ease and locks in the out position when the jaw opens. When the king pin comes in contact with the back of jaw, the jaw wraps around the king pin, the handle closes, you put in the safety pin and your ready to go RVing. I chose the Husky Custom Rails and installation kit (HT31405-686) for my install. The reason I chose these rails over the ones that etrailer had matched up for the hitch is, I had previously installed a set of Airlift Airbags and I didn't want the rail install to interfere with the airbags. It was a good choice, there was no interference at all. If I had not had the bags, I would have chose the rails and install kit that require no drilling. Drilling the holes went very fast and easy, it was torking the rear bolts down that was very difficult. There was not enough room to get a wrench of any kind around the nut. I wound up using a set of vise grips on the nut while a friend of mine torked the bolt slowly from above.
All and all I'm happy with the product and I'll give another review in a year.
Harvey
3/3/2020
This Demco 21K fifth wheel hitch is a great piece of equipment. I have pulled my 40 Heartland Bighorn fifth wheel as far north and west as Wisconsin and south and east as Florida. It has performed like I thought it should and beyond. I am sure glad that I chose the Recon over any of the more expensive brands. Its a real performer and it looks pretty cool too!
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Randy
3/21/2019
I really liked the hitch as it was light and easy to use. I have purchased a new truck and needed a slider as it is a short bed. I purchased the rail kit from etrailer and as always it a superior product.